Convertible top



25, 1964 R. G. ZELLER 3,146,022

CONVERTIBLE TOP Filed Jan. 22, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

A TORNEY Aug. 25, 1964 R. G. ZELLER couvxaacrrsm TOP Filed Jan. 22, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fade/f 6f 22%? ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1964 Filed Jan. 22, 1962 R. G. ZELLER CONVERTIBLE TOP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent ce 3,146,022 CONVERTIBLE TQP Robert G. Zeller, Warren, Micln, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,511 Claims. (CL 26116) This invention relates to convertible tops and more particularly to stabilizing means for convertible tops of the general type having inward folding side rails.

The stabilizing means of this invention is particularly useful for controlling the folding and unfolding movement of the side rails with respect to each other as the top is lowered and raised to ensure synchronous movement thereof. In the absence of any stabilizing means, the rails are free within limits set by the top header to fold and unfold at will so that the top header will sway or shift laterally of the body rather than move evenly at all times in generally parallel alignment with the windshield header.

In the past, it has been proposed to control the folding and unfolding movement of the side rails by controlling the folding movement of the side rail sections of each rail with respect to each other. However, the stabilizing means of this invention functions between the pivots of the side rails to the top header and is of very simple construction but yet controls and synchronizes the movement of the rails at all times so that the top header moves generally parallel to the windshield header as the top is both raised and lowered and movement of the top header relative to the body is effectively prevented.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improved stabilizing means for a convertible top of the general type including inward folding side rails. Another object of this invention is to provide a stabilizing means for controlling and synchronizing movement of a pair of inward folding convertible top side rail assemblies. A further object of this invention is to provide a stabilizing arrangement for accurately positioning a convertible top header with respect to a windshield header and a pair of inward folding convertible top side rails during both raising and lowering movement of the top assembly.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken away partial side elevational view of a vehicle body having convertible top assembly mounted thereon of the general type including inward folding side rails and embodying a stabilizing means according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a rear perspective view of the top assembly in a partially lowered position;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the top assembly in a fully lowered position within the top well;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG- URE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic illustrating the principles of the stabilizing means of this invention, and;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic illustrating the principles of this invention.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings, a convertible vehicle body 20 includes a windshield 22 and a windshield header 24. The passenger compartment of the body includes a vehicle front seat 3,146,022 Patented Aug. 25, 1964 assembly 26 and a vehicle rear seat 28. A convertible top assembly of the inward folding rail type is mounted on the body 20 for movement between a raised position, as shown in FIGURE 1, and a lowered position, as shown in FIGURE 6, in order to open and close the passenger compartment of the body.

The top assembly 30 generally includes a spaced pair of inwardly folding side rails 32, each of which includes a front rail section 34 and a rear rail section 36 pivoted thereto at 37, with the rear rail section being supported on the body. Since the rails 32 are of like construction, although of different hand, only one such rail will be described, and it will be understood that the other is of the same construction.

The front rail sections 34 are each pivotally connected to one end of a convertible top header 38 which spans the body and is adapted to bear against the windshield header 24 in the raised position of the top, as shown in FIGURE 1. As best shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the rearward ends of the header 38 are bolted at 40 to a bearing plate assembly which includes a lower flat bearing plate 42 apertured at 43 and an upper bearing plate 44 having a flanged central aperture 45, with plates 42 and 44 being separated by shims 47 as shown, if necessary. The rearward ends of the header 38 are apertured to receive the central flanges of plates 44 therethrough, with these apertures and the apertures therein receiving the bolts 40 being enlarged to provide for both lateral and longitudinal adjustment of the top header relative to the bearing plate assemblies. A headed stud 46 is welded to each front rail section adjacent the forward end thereof and projects upwardly therefrom, with studs 46 rotatably receiving the bearing plate assemblies to pivotally interconnect the top header 38 with each of the front rail sections 34. An offset link or member 48 extends forwardly of the top assembly from the left-hand stud 46 and a similar offset link or member 50 extends rearwardly from the right-hand stud 46, with links 48 and 50 seating on shoulders of the studs 46 and overlying the central flanges of plates 44. The links 48 and 50 are arranged to lie along the center lines of each of the front rail sections 34 with each link being fixedly secured to the studs 46 by nuts 52, so that the links will move with the front rail sections 34 as these rail sections pivot relative to the top header 38 during both folding and unfolding movement of the top assembly. Washers 53 interposed between links 48 and 50 and the central flanges of plates 44 retain the bearing plate assemblies in place on studs 46.

The links 48 and 50 form part of the stabilizing means of this invention and each link is pivotally secured at 54 and 56, respectively, adjacent the free end thereof to a pair of like members or end sections 58, which are part of a stabilizing member or assembly 60. Member 60 further includes a center tubular section 62 located generally normal to each of the sections 58 and including flattened end portions which are welded or otherwise fixedly secured thereto. The end sections 58 are of the same length, while the link 48 is slightly longer than the link 50 in order to accomplish the purposes of the stabilizing means of this invention, as will be further described. It will be noted that the stabilizing assembly 60 is of generally Z-shape and that the center section 62 of the assembly is generally parallel to the top header 38 and remains generally parallel to the top header 38 at all times during movement of the convertible top assembly between its raised and lowered positions.

A front or No. 1 bow 63 of rigid construction has its ends pivoted at 64 to the rearward ends of links 66. The forward ends of links 66 are pivoted at 68 to brackets 70 welded to the front rail sections 34. In order to locate links 66 and bow 63 laterally of rails 32 in the raised position of the top, a pair of brackets 72 are welded to the rail sections 34, with each bracket being provided with an offset pocket receiving a respective link 66 in the raised position of the top. When the front rail sections 34 swing inwardly as the top is being lowered, the links 66 swing outwardly of the rail sections 34 about their pivots 68 to allow the bow 63 to move with the top and to be folded relative to the rail sections 34. Suitable stop pins 69 secured to brackets 70 are engaged by links 66 in the fully lowered position of the top to locate the links and bow 63.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 1, and 6 of the drawings, the manner in which the rear rail sections 36 are mounted on the body will be described. A mounting support 74 is mounted within the top well 76 of the body located rearwardly of the rear seat 28. Preferably, the support 74 is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the inner rear wheel housing 78 of the body. Support 74 is bolted at 80 to the lower plate of a trunnion bracket 82 which includes a spaced pair of upstanding ears 84 pivotally secured at 86 to the rear rail sections 36. The axes defined by the pivots 86 lie in a horizontal plane, with each axis extending generally forwardly and inwardly of the body in this horizontal plane whereby the axes converge with respect to each other. Each axis lies in a vertical plane located approximately 45 with respect to the vertical plane of the center line of the body.

The rear rail sections 36 are power operated in order to move the top between raised and lowered positions. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, an electric motor 88 mounted on the body rearwardly of seat 28 drives a pair of flexible cables 90. Each cable drives a gear drive unit 92 which is supported by an upwardly extending bracket 94 fixedly mounted on the body. The gear drive units 92 are of known type and reference may be had to Patent Number 2,905,012 Lohr et al. for the details of a suitable unit. A screw shaft 96 is threadedly received through each of the drive units, with the upper end of the screw shaft being pivoted at 98 to one end of links 100 and 102. Link 100 is pivoted at its other end at 104 to the rail sections 36 and link 102 is pivoted at its other end at 106 to the inboard ear 84 of bracket 82. Upon operation of the motor 88, the drive units 92 will rotate so as to thread the shaft 96 inwardly and outwardly thereof to thereby fold and unfold links 100 and 102 and swing the rail sections 36 about the pivots 86.

The intermediate or No. 2 bow 108 is of rigid onepiece construction and has its ends pivoted at 110 to bow supports 112 which rest on rail sections 36 in the raised position of the top. The bow supports 112 and the rear or No. 3 bow 114 are pivoted to brackets 116 secured to the body for swinging movement of the bow supports and bow 114 in parallel longitudinal vertical planes with respect to the body.

The movement of the convertible top from a raised position, as shown in FIGURE 1, to a lowered position, as shown in FIGURE 6, will now be described. Upon operation of the motor 88 in a suitable direction to operate each of the drive units 92 and in turn shift the screw shafts 96 downwardly of the body, the links 160 and 102 will be folded with respect to each other to swing the rear rail sections 36 rearwardly and downwardly of the body about the pivots 86. As the rail sections 36 swing rearwardly and downwardly of the body, the rail sections 34 will swing generally outwardly with respect to the rail sections 36 about pivots 37 so as to fold each of the rails 32. The links 66 will generally swing outwardly of the rail sections 34 about their pivots 68 as can be seen in FIGURE 5 to allow the rail sections 34 to swing inwardly with respect to the front or No. 1 bow 63. The top fabric will cause the bow supports 112 and bow 114 to swing generally rearwardly and downwardly of the body, as the rail sections 36 swing rearwardly, downwardly and inwardly of the body from underneath the bow supports 112 as can be seen in FIGURE 5.

Thereafter, upon continued folding movement of the top, the top will move to a folded position, as shown in FIGURE 6, within the top well 76. Generally, the rail sections 34 and 36 will be stored above the bows 198 and 114, and the bow 63 will be stored below rail sections 34 and forwardly of the bows 108 and 114. Without any stabilizing means, it can be seen that, during movement of the top 30 between raised and lowered positions, the front rail sections 34 can swing laterally of the body about their pivots 37 to the rear rail sections 36 whereby the rails 32 will not fold and unfold synchronously and in unison with each other. The top header 38, will, of course, shift laterally of the body as the rail sections 34 swing laterally of the body about their pivots 37 so that the header could assume many positions with respect to the windshield header 24 despite the fact that it is desirable that this header move generally parallel to the windshield header at al times. Any such movement of the front rail sections 34 and the top header 38 is effectively prevented by the stabilizing assembly 60. When the top is in raised position, the side rails 32, the links 48 and 50, and the end sections 58 of assembly 60 are all located generally parallel to the center line of the body. As the front rail sections 34 fold inwardly of the body when the top is lowered, the left-hand link 48 swings or moves counterclockwise or outwardly of the body, as viewed in FIGURE 5, while the right-hand link swings or moves clockwise or inwardly of the body, as the links move with their respective rail sections 34 and these rail sections swing in opposite directions about pivots 37. The stabilizing assembly including the end sections 58 induces rotation of the front rail sections 34 in a direction opposite their direction of movement with respect to the body so as to eliminate any swinging movement of the front rail sections 34 with respect to the rear rail sections 36, other than synchronous swinging movement. Thus, the top header 38 will not shift laterally of the body but will move longitudinally thereof and remain parallel to the winshield header at all times. The stabilizing assembly will also act to brake any greater rotation of one rail section 34 with respect to the other rail section 34 so as to cause these rail sections to rotate at the same rate about their pivotal connections 37 with respect to the rear rail sections 36.

It will be remembered that the left-hand link 48 is longer than the right-hand link 50. This is necessary in order to have an operable stabilizing assembly and will now be explained with reference to the schematics of FIGURES 8 and 9, the schematic of FIGURE 8 representing the raised position of the top and the schematic of FIGURE 9 representing the lowered position of the top.

In the schematics:

connection 56, so as to complete a right triangle (in FIGURE 8).

In FIGURE 8, the distance XZ is greater than the length AB inasmuch as XZ forms the hypotenuse of triangle XYZ and AB equals the base YZ of the triangle. Referring to FIGURE 9, if link XA were equal in length to link ZB, then AB would equal XZ and XAC and DZB could not attain a straight line position without distortion or bending of assembly 60. In order for XZ, then, to reach the position shown in FIGURE 9, the difference in the lengths of pivot links XA and BZ must equal the difference in lengths of AB and X2. That is,

when the hypotenuse X2 is superimposed on the base AB and moved a distance ZB to the left of base end B, the hypotenuse end X is farther from base end A than hypotenuse end Z is from base end B.

Thus, in order to have an operable stabilizing means, length of the counterclockwise swinging pivot link 48 must exceed the length of the clockwise swinging link 50 by the diiference between the distance between the pivots 46 and the distance between the pivots 54 and 56. Referring to FIGURE 8, and letting K represent the height XY of triangle XYZ, L the base YZ, M the hypotenuse XZ, h the longer link and b the shorter link, the following equations are true.

As the top moves from a raised to a lowered position, link XA rotates outwardly or counterclockwise and link BZ inwardly or clockwise with respect to the body. Since link XA is longer than link BZ and both links rotate at the same rate, point X moves about point A faster than point Z moves about point B. This causes a continual lengthening of the triangle base YZ as its height XY decreases. The constant length XZ is the appropriate hypotenuse for the triangle throughout the infinite number of combinations of base and height lengths. When the rail sections 34 have rotated 45 degrees from their position of FIGURE 1 toward their position of FIGURE 6, the stabilizing means encounters its greatest resistance. Beyond that point, it gradually diminishes and becomes zero at a 90 degree position of rail sections 34, not reached, and a straight line position of rail sections 34 with respect to rail sections 36.

Although the schematic of FIGURE 9 assumes that the rail sections 34 rotate through an arc of 90 during movement of the top 30 from its raised to its lowered position, the rail sections 34 actually rotate only through an arc of approximately 80 since rotation through a greater arc is undesirable. However, the schematic of FIGURE 9 serves to illustrate the principles underlying this invention.

When the top is in a lowered position and initially starts to move toward a raised position, the initial force on the links 48 and 54 is applied by the front rail sections 34 along lines generally transverse of the body. If the links 48 and 50 where in a transversely aligned position, rather than the position as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, when the front rail sections applied force to these links transversely of the body, one of the links might rotate overcenter so that both links would begin to rotate in the same direction and thereby lock the top assembly against any further movement. Accordingly, it is desirable to prevent the links 48 and 50 from assuming any aligned position transversely of the body when the top assembly is in a lowered position, and accordingly it is desirable to have the front rail sections 34 rotate through an arc of less than 90 during movement of the assembly from a raised position to a lowered position.

It is believed that a comparison of FIGURE 2 with FIGURES 6 and 7 in conjunction with the foregoing explanation of the principles underlying this invention will clearly illustrate the manner in which the stabilizing assembly functions during movement of the top assembly between its raised and lowered positions.

Although a particular type of inward folding side rail top assembly has been shown and described herein, the stabilizing means of this invention is not limited to this one top assembly but may be used with equal success with other types of inward folding rail top assemblies by application of the principles underlying the invention as hereinbefore set forth.

Thus, this invention provides a new and improved stabilizing means for convertible tops of the general type having inward folding side rails.

What is claimed is:

1. In a convertible top of the type including a spaced pair of inward folding rails pivotally interconnected by a transverse top header, stabilizing means comprising, in combination, means secured to each of said rails for movement therewith, one of said means being located to one side of one of said rail pivots and the other of said means being located to the other side of the other of said rail pivots, and a stabilizer member pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof to said one means to said one side of said one rail pivot and pivotally connected adjacent the other end thereof to said other means to said other side of said other rail pivot, said stabilizer member pivots being located on opposite sides of said stabilizer member, the distance between the centers of one pair of pivots, comprising said one stabilizer member pivot and said one rail pivot, being greater than the distance between the centers of the other pair of pivots, comprising said other stabilizer member pivot and said other rail pivot.

2. In a convertible top of the type including a spaced pair of inward folding rails pivotally interconnected by a transverse top header, stabilizing means comprising, in combination, means secured to each of said rails for movement therewith, one of said means being located to one side of one of said rail pivots and the other of said means being located to the other side of the other of said rail pivots, and a stabilizer member pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof to said one means to said one side of said one rail pivot and pivotally connected adjacent the other end thereof to said other means to said other side of said other rail pivot, said stabilizer member pivots being located on opposite sides of said stabilizer member, the distance between the centers of one pair of pivots, comprising said one stabilizer member pivot and said one rail pivot, being greater than the distance between the centers of the other pair of pivots, comprising said other stabilizer member pivot and said other rail pivot, lines through said centers of each of said pairs of pivots being generally parallel to each other in the unfolded position of said rails and being generally in alignment with each other in the folded position of said rails.

3. In a convertible top of the type including a spaced pair of inward folding rails pivotally interconnected by a transverse top header, stabilizing means comprising, in combination, means secured to each of said rails for movement therewith, one of said means being located to one side of one of said rail pivots and the other of said means being located to the other side of the other of said rail pivots, and a generally Z-shaped stabilizer member including a center section and a pair of opposite laterally extending end sections, one end section being pivotally connected to said one means to said one side of said one rail pivot and the other end section being pivotally connected to said other means to said other side of said other rail pivot, the distance between the centers of one pair of pivots, comprising said one end section pivot and said one rail pivot, being greater than the distance between the centers of the other pair of pivots, comprising said other end section pivot and said other rail pivot.

4. In a convertible top of the type including a spaced pair of inward folding rails pivotally interconnected by a transverse top header, stabilizing means comprising, in combination, a member secured to each of said rails for movement therewith relative to said header about a respective rail pivot, one of said members extending to one side of one of said rail pivots and the other of said members extending to the other side of the other of said rail pivots, and a stabilizer member pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof to said one member to said one side of said one rail pivot and pivotally connected adjacent the other end thereof to said other member to said other side of said other rail pivot, said stabilizer member pivots being located on opposite sides of said stabilizer member, the distance between the centers of one pair of pivots, comprising said one stabilizer member pivot and said one rail pivot, being greater than the distance between the centers of the other pair of pivots, comprising said other stabilizer member pivot and said other rail pivot.

5. In a convertible top of the type including a spaced pair of inward folding rails pivotally interconnected by a transverse top header, stabilizing means comprising, in combination, a link secured to each of said rails for movement therewith relative to said header about a respective rail pivot, one of said links extending forwardly of said top from one of said rail pivots and the other of said links extending rearwardly of said top from the other of said rail pivots, and a stabilizer member pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof to said one link forwardly of said one rail pivot and pivotally connected adjacent the other end thereof to said other link rearwardly of said other rail pivot, said stabilizer member pivots being located on opposite sides of said stabilizer member, the distance between the centers of one pair of pivots, comprising said one stabilizer member pivot and said one rail pivot, being greater than the distance between the centers of the other pair of pivots, comprising said other stabilizer member pivot and said other rail pivot, lines through said centers of each of said pairs of pivots being generally parallel to each other in the unfolded position of said rails and being generally in alignment with each 10 other in the folded position of said rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 2,070,699 Westrope Feb. 16, 1937 2,860,913 Kuiper et al Nov. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 752,282 Great Britain July 11, 1956 

1. IN A CONVERTIBLE TOP OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A SPACED PAIR OF INWARD FOLDING RAILS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED BY A TRANSVERSE TOP HEADER, STABILIZING MEANS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, MEANS SECURED TO EACH OF SAID RAILS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, ONE OF SAID MEANS BEING LOCATED TO ONE SIDE OF ONE OF SAID RAIL PIVOTS AND THE OTHER OF SAID MEANS BEING LOCATED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE OTHER OF SAID RAIL PIVOTS, AND A STABILIZER MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID ONE MEANS TO SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID ONE RAIL PIVOT AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED ADJACENT THE OTHER END THEREOF TO SAID OTHER MEANS TO SAID OTHER SIDE OF SAID OTHER RAIL PIVOT, SAID STABILIZER MEMBER PIVOTS BEING LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID STABILIZER MEMBER, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CENTERS OF ONE PAIR OF PIVOTS, COMPRISING SAID ONE STABILIZER MEMBER PIVOT AND SAID ONE RAIL PIVOT, BEING GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CENTERS OF THE OTHER PAIR OF PIVOTS, COMPRISING SAID OTHER STABILIZER MEMBER PIVOT AND SAID OTHER RAIL PIVOT. 